Foul detecting device



g- 1953 J. A. M QLAGAN ET AL FOUL DETECTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 28, 1947 Aug. 25, 1953 J. A. M LAeAN ETAL FOUL DETECTINGDEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed.May 28, 1947 Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FOUL DETECTING DEVICE Application'MayZS, 1947,Serial No. 751,082

11 Glaims.

:1 The present invention relates generally to-signal devicesand'morerparticularly to :foul detecting means for games andrecreational contests such as bowling, andconstitutesacontinuationin-part of our Patent No 2,425,255.

The present invention is illustrated by Way of example as an automaticfoul detecting device for bowlingalleys to operate-or trigger theoperation of equipment-installedupon the alley, such as lights, *foulsignals, pin setters, score keepers, warning devices-and penalizers, orthe like, which are used during theplay of thegame.

The gameof bowling is played on an .alleyhaving a'runway'for players anda hallway for handling a ball put into play bythe players. A foul linedefines or separates the two ways, and'when delivering a ball across thefoul line a player is not permitted to touch the foul line or theballway with any part of his body. Furthermore, no

limbor appendage of his bodymay overhang the foul line while-it is alsoin contact with the runway without afoul being deemed to have beencommitted.

The pins-to be-knocked down by a ball are set in a triangular patternnear the far end of the hallway, and as apart of -the'alley,a pit ispro- "vided beyond the pins to catch the ball and any pins it knocksdown.

There'are ten -frames'to-a-game for each player, and in each frame theplayer is permitted to throw two ballsinan endeavor to knock down all ofthe .pins. The number of pins knocked down in each-frame is added,according to certain scoring rules, to the number in the other frames to.make the total score for the game, and the penalty for committing afoulis the loss in'the total score of the pins knocked down by-the ballwhich was thrown when the foul was committed and also the loss of theballgth-rown.

This .is significant because each frame starts with all the pins setupon the alley, andif a foul is committed on the-first ball delivered inany frame, all the pins'knocked down but not scored are set up again onthe alley for the second ball. Consequently, the resetting of all of thepins will take placeeach time a foul is committed, and a foul signal isgenerally provided which not only instructsa pin boy to' reset the pinsbut also informs (the player that a reset is beingmade. Because of thisresetting of allthe pins on the hallway following each foul committed,players have upon occasion yielded to the temptation to commit anintentional foul if they discover in time to do so that the ,first .ball

leaves or will leave a diificult play for them on .2 their second ball.The odds on being able to knock down all the pins on ,one ball are muchgreater than the odds on being able to pick 1111 on "the second throwtwo widely Spaced pins, referred toin howling parlance as va fsp1i -.0.rrailroad.

In this connection, equipment has beenqemployedfor many years toassist'in resetting {the pins, namely, a ,foul signal and a .pinrackwhich is loaded by :a :pin boy. Whenever :a foul is detected andsignalled, the pin boy lowers the rack to flip the pins into place :onthe hallway.

If the pin setting rack isoperated-by a prime mover to lower .the pinsandyset them in place on the alley its action can'be initiatedortriggered .directly with the foul signal impulse or it can beinitiated in conjunction'with the foul signal by an automatic fouldetector or by .a humanfoul judge'himself. 'Theend result :would be thesame as that which would occur witha pin boy who operates the rackbyihand :forthe same purpose when'informed-of the commission of a foulby an automatic foul-detector or human -foul judge.

However, not all fouls committed when railroads are left areunintentional fouls, and in the-present'invention one of the objects isto'provide an improved foul detecting device which prevents the slyintentional commission-of a foul to bring about unfairly a resettingofthe pins by hand or automatic racks.

A further object'of'the invention'is to-provide an improved fouldetecting device which distinguishes between a delayed sly movement of afoot upon'or overthe foul line and a 'movement wherein the player cannotprevent falling over the foul line.

Another object ofthe invention is to determine in relationship to theplay of the'ballthe periods of time with-in which infractions of therules of play will be consideredinvoluntary fouls on different areawaysof the alley. V Aiurther object of the invention is to provide a fouldetecting device which removes 'from the conjecture of observers thecharacter of infractions of r les of play Where the ques ionof.intention is notrclear, and provide oontinuing foul detection for thoseinfractions where the intention of the player is clearly discernible.

A further .Qbjec of the nvention is .to remove from foul det ctionwithin a predetermined period of time aftertheball has been deliveredthe devices which detect fouls that are generally committeglby the timethe ball has reached the ,pitand. continue for a predetermined timethere- 3 after the detection of fouls which are delayed and generallyinvolve the loss of balance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact and simple unitof equipment which is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain and can bereadily installed upon a bowling alley and serviced easily from time totime as required.

These being among the objects of the present invention other and furtherobjects will become apparent from the drawings, the description relatingthereto and the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through a bowlingalley indicating the arrangement and preferred construction of theinterlocked devices that detect and disclose infractions of the rules ofplay;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view taken from above the alley, of the alleyshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical showing of a photoelectric control systememployed to detect infractions of rules of play at and beyond the foulline;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical showing of a modifled photoelectric controlsystem to detect infractions of rules of play at and beyond the foulline; Fig. 5 is a preferred form of the photoelectric control system todetect infractions of rules of play at and beyond the foul line; and,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical detailed showing of -a typical photoelectriccontrol employed in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5.

Reference is hereby made to our Patent No. 2,425,255 of which thisapplication is a continuation in part and to the disclosure and description therein which is hereby incorporated herein to show otherembodiments of the invention and for a better understanding of thepresently disclosed improvements.

Referring now to the drawings more specifically, the bowling alleyindicated at I comprises a bed II divided by a foul line I2 into arunway I3 upon one side and a varnished portion or ballway I4 upon theother side over which the ball I travels to reach and strike the bowlingpins that are set up on the far end of the alley. Along both sides ofthe hallway, the alley I0 is bounded by gutters I1 and the gutters byrails 58, each rail separating adjacent alleys. one from another wheremore than one alley is installed. At the ends of the rails I8 that areadjacent the foul line I2, the rails are cut away as at to receive a box2| in which are mounted the light sources for the light beams for onealley and, shielded therefrom, the two photoelectric cells for anadjacent alley, and also preferably, the circuits which are employed todetect infractions of rules of play at the foul line.

More particularly, as shown in Fig. 1, two

beams of light are arranged one above the other for each alley at thefoul line I2. The top beam .23 is located where it is interrupted by aball ap- "proaching the foul line before the lower beam 24 isinterrupted, and is the last of the two beams to be reestablished as theball rolls beyond the foul'line, it being impossible thereby to interonthe opposite side of the alley.

Furthermore, if desired, a trip beam device 25 may be employed down thealley a short way to 'control a normally closed switch 26 that is heldopen by energization of a relay 53a to prevent registering an infractionof the rules of play as a foul unless the ball is released to pass downthe alley. Interruptance of the beam of the device 25 operates to closethe switch 26 by means of a circuit described in further detailhereinafter in connection with Fig. 3.

Furthermore, another circuit similar to that controlled by the beam 25,which will also be described later, may be controlled by a beam device21 located just in front of the pins IE to open a normally closed switch28 (Fig. 3) held closed by energization of the relay 531). This switchis permitted to open when a ball passes that point to prevent a playerfrom committing an intentional foul when he sees that the ball hasstruck the pins and left them in such a way as to provide the playerwith a difficult second try. The photoelectric controls 25 and .21 andthe operaion of the switches 26 and 28 will be described further intheir relation to the light beams 23 and 24, it being understood thatthe photoelectric controls 25 and 2'! can be dispensed with in anyinstallation if the results accomplished by them are not desired by thealley owner. Referring now to Fig. 3 a foul signal lamp 4I is connectedin parallel with any other form of alarm desired that is connected tothe terminals I5I. are connected in series with the normally openswitches 44 of a normally deenergized relay 45 for automatic operation.Relay 45 has a selfsustaining circuit I01 connected to one of thecontacts of a switch 44 to energize the relay 45 and close the switches44 controlled thereby until such time as a normally closed bimetaltiming switch 41 breaks after being heated by a heater unit 48.

The relay 45 is powered from the current source 42, through a conductorI00, normally open switch 55, a conductor IOI, normally closed switch28, conductor I02, the coil of the relay 45, conductor I03, a normallyclosed switch 52, conductors I04 and I05, normally closed switch 47, andconductor I06. The relay 45, once actuated, closes the switches 44,after which the 25, and conductors I05 and I05 as controlled by thetimer switch 4?.

The normally closed relay switch 26 is held open by the coil 5311 asdescribed in connection with the trip beam 25 located where it willdetect the release of the ball. The switch 26 is disposed preferably inthe foul signal circuit 45 so that it does not interfere with the actionof the relay 45, but rather cooperates with its action, being in serieswith the upper switch 44 thereof.

The lamp 4| and terminals I51 aesogoes the ball clears the beam 23. Thelower beam relay 5| is instantly responsive toslight-orpartial-interruptance of'the beam 24. Until-the beam of light energizingdevice 2-! has been interrupted the relay 45 may-be closed by theinterruptance of the beam zl-alone andheld-closed by thetimer switch 41.Then when-the ball l5trips the beam 25, signifying that it has beenreleased and put into play, the switch closes and operates a signal lampM to indicate that theinfraction interrupting the beam 24 was a foul.On-'the-other hand, if a foul has not been committed until after theball interrupts the trip beam 25, closure of the switch 25 merely setsup the circuit controlled by the relay 45, and the "lower beam registersa foul if committed before the ball interrupts the beam 21.

Thus when a player advances to the foul'line I2 to place-a ball I-5-inplay'bydelivering'itdown the alley in thedirection-of the pins I8, anyinfractions of the rules of play at thefoul line will be detected by thebeam 26 and registered by the relay closing the switches 44 and sustaining theclosure as timed by the duration-of the closed period of thetimer switch 41. Whether the ball has been released before or after theinfraction, the registry will be'establishedsince, if the ballinterrupts a beam 23; the relay is released or locked out only'to-letthe ball go through and, if the infraction takes place or continuestoexist after the ball has been released-the moment the'upper beam 23 isreestablished the relay 45 will be energized.

Energization of-the relay IE, however, doesnot sound the signal andindicate the foul immediately unless the beam 25 is dispensed with, inwhich case the foul-will be immediately indicated. If the beam '25 isemployed in any particular installation, the recording of the foul willnot be made until the beam 25 is interrupted and the switch 26 permittedto close.

The beam 25, when employed, is installed far enough down the alley thatit is unlikely thata ball will be thrown overit and low enoughupon thealley to catch the ball rolling past it. Although it isdesirable tohavethe beam 25 as close to the-foul lineas possible to apprisea player ofhis foul as soon as possible for .psychologica1 reasons, the distancethat beam .25 is beyond the foul line is not critical so long as a slowmoving ball will interrupt .it within the timing .period provided by theduration of the closed :position of the'timer switch 41. Thus a foul isregistered and then indicated if a ball has been put into In order toprevent a player committing an intentional foul to better his chances ona second try or to prevent facetious fouling merely-to work theapparatus after the play of the ball has been completed, it is preferredthat a beam 21 be located just in front of the pins to remove the fouldetector from operation when or shortly after the ball has struck thepins I8.

Referring to Fig. 1,cascade beams I I I are provided over the hallwayimmediately beyond the foul line I2 to cover an area of abouttwo to fourfeet with the zig-zag beams suificiently close together that personsfalling over the foulline, as when they lose their balance, willinterrupt at least one of the beams. These beams, by way of example,originate with a light source at H2, and are projected, by lenses I I3at a slight angle to the opposite side of the alley where a mirror II lcatches the light and reflects the light'back to a second mirror H5,which mirror in turn redirects thelight to 'a' third mirror 'I- I6,-from which 6. mirror the beamiis refiected again acrossthe'alley to apoint I I I where it is picked '-.up by a photoelectric "cell l t-8-(see Figs. 3, '4;and5). As many cascades as maybe desired can beprovided in the mannerdescribed and the photoelectric cells I-I'8 can beconnected in series :with thegrid circuit cf :the cascadeamplifierindicatedat I20 in Figs. 3,:4.- and-5,:a representative form ofanother such-amplifier being shown inF-ig. 6.

The-amplifier circuit shown in Fig. 6 is built around the-R. -CPA.'11-7P '7 GT tube 'I2I of a heater cathodetypewhich combines inone bulba half wave rectifier I22 and a beam power amplifier I23. The heater I24Lisdes'ign'ed foruse directly across a 117 volt supply line' which canbe either A. C. "or 135C. provided-the rectifier side of the filamentsuch asthebinding post -'(-I) I 25 is connected to-thepositivesi'de I29of theD. 'C. power leads, or the ground line I-I 9-of the A50. circuitis connected to the amplifier side of the heater 124 as atterminal2'indicated at I26. A smoothing choke i2 is connected to thecathodeof'the rectifier side-and both leads thereof are provided with smoothingcondensers I28 leading to the ground line I I-9. If DC. current is to beused, the choke I2-I can be 'a-resistance'of such value that the voltageon the 13+ supply line indicated at Edd-will be-approximatelyvolts sothat it will'not overloadthe photoelectric tube I I8.

A relay coil I3I is connected between a B+ line I39 and a plate I32 ofthe amplifier side I23-ofthe tube I 2 I. An anode I33ofthephotoelectriccell H8 is connected to the B+ line I30 while a cathode I34thereof 'isconnected to the ground line I 19 through a "high resistanceI35 of approximately"5 megohms to maintain a small current flow inthe'photoelectric circuit. A coupling condenser 136 of approximately .01'mfd. valueconnects thecathode I34 of the photoelectrio cell "to grid I31 of the amplifier tube I23 whereby the-currentfiow through the relayI3I is eontrolled by the variation ofli-ght upon'the photoelectric cellII8 through bias of the grid I31. "In' this particular circuit the flowof relay energization current is maintained as long as there is lightfalling upon the photoelectric cell II8. When the beam-of light directedagainst the photoelectriccell I I8 is interrupted, the relay 1 3| isdeener-gized.

Referring to' Fig. '5, the rectifier side of the tube 'I-2'I, forpurposesofconvenience, is shown as a battery I 40, while the amplifierside of the tube I2I is indicated in a simplified-form as a triode-MI.The photocell 36 is the one responsive to the lower beam-at the foulline and the photocell 34 is the one responsive to the upper beam "atthe foul line,like numerals referring to like parts throughout-theviews.The beam device 25 is the one located upon the alley approxiinthe pit.

The system shown in Fig. '5 is shown in the condition of energizationprior to the time the -bal1-I5 is put into play over the foul line by aplayer on the runway I3. photoelectric relays are energized, namely,relay 53 for the upper beam 23, relay 5| for the lower In thiscondition, all

beam 26, relay 53a for the tripbeam 25, which has a -10-second holdafter deenergization, relay "53b for the'cutout'beam -21, which has adelay hold-of approximately 8 seconds, andrelay I42 for the cascadebeams. The upper beam relay 53 has two switches thereon, a normallyclosed one I 43 held open when the relay 53 is energized, and a normallyopen one I44 held closed when the relay is energized. The lower beamrelay has one normally open switch I45 thereon held closed whenenergized. The cascade relay I42 has one normally closed switch I46thereon held open when energized. The trip beam relay 5311 has a singlepole double throw switch 200. thereon whose contact I48 is open andwhose contact I4? is closed when energized, and the cutout relay 532)has one normally closed switch I55 which is held open by the relay whenenergized.

In connecting these relays in accordance with the preferred form of theinvention, the signals 40, M and any other equipment which may beconnected between the poles I5I is controlled by the cascade circuit Awhich includes the switch I46. The energization of the coil of the relayI42 controlling this switch is controlled by two circuits connected inparallel with each other, one indicated by the letter B, and the otherindicated by the letter C. More particularly, one side of the relay I42is connected to the power side of the battery I45 and the other side ofthe relay I42 is connected through the circuit B to the ground throughthe contact I41 of switch 200. The circuit C of the relay I42 runsthrough the switch I45, circuit C1 and switch I44 or, alternativelytherewith, through circuit C2 which includes a normally open switch I54of a relay I55 powered from a power pack I55 and provided with acondenser I51 of sufiicient value that when the power goes on, the relaywill have approximately 2. l-second delay action before moving theswitch I54 to its closed position and moving a second switch I58 to itsopen position.

Circuits C1 and 02 then converge as at I52, and circuit C continuesthrough a foot actuated switch I66 located on top of the bowling alleyrail I8 where a person stepping on the rail would open it. The otherside of the switch I60 leads to the plate of the tube I therebycompleting the second circuit C to ground under the control of thecascade photoelectric tubes H8.

The relay 5I is provided with a 3-second delay hold after deenergizationand before energization thereof will operate to again close the switchI45. The coil thereof is under the control of the photoelectric cellthrough a plate circuit D of the tube I4I, and also, under the controlof a circuit E having circuits E1 and E2 diverging at I5I'. One of thesecircuits, E1, includes the switch I58 and the switch I43. The other ofthese circuits E2 runs through the switch I50 of the cutout relay 53b.

Relay I55 is connected to the contact I48 and is under the control ofthe switch 200 through the circuit F.

In the operation of the circuit shown in Fig. 5, when a ball is thrownover the foul line l2 the beam to the cell 34 is the first to beinterrupted and the last to be released of the two foul line beams tothe cells 34 and 36. When the top beam to photocell 34 is interrupted,switch I43 is closed and circuit E and E1 sustains energization of therelay 5I to prevent the switch I from being opened, which wouldotherwise occur when the lower beam to photoelectric cell 36 alone isinterrupted, in which case the relay 5I would be deenergized throughcircuit D. Circuit D, of course, is reenergized with the return of thelower light beam before the switch I43 is again opened. This permits aball to pass over the foul line without indicating a false foul.

Thereafter, if a foul is committed at the foul line by interrupting thelower beam 24 before the ball reaches th trip beam device 25 the bottombeam relay 5I is deenergized by the only circuit maintainingenergization at that time, namely, circuit D, since switches I43 and I55are open in alternative circuits E1 and E2, respectively. When theswitch I45 is permitted to open, it remains open for three seconds, andwhen the ball interrupts the trip beam within that time, th switch 209of the trip beam relay 53a breaks the circuit B which energizes therelay I42. With circuit C broken at I45, and circuit B broken at 260,deenergization of the cascade relay I42 follows immediately to close theswitch I46 and operate the equipment including the means for calling ofa foul.

If, however, one of the cascade beams is interrupted instead of thelower foul line beam before the ball reaches the trip beam device 25,current flow through th amplifier I26 is stopped with the same effectupon the circuit C as the opening of the switch I45. This is also trueif the treadle switch I65 was stepped on or any other normally closedswitch in series therewith is opened which is connected across the leadsindicated at I5I, such as wall switches, etc.

If a foul is committed by interrupting the bottom beam after the balltrips the trip beam and before tripping the cutout beam deenergizationof th cascade relay I42 will take place immediately since once the tripbeam is interrupted the relay 53a. thereafter remains deenergized forten seconds.

However, once the trip beam is interrupted, the relay I55 is energizedthrough the circuit F and switch 205. Ther will be, however, a l-seconddelay after establishing the circuit F before the switch I54 will close,during which time interruptance of the top beam 23 will open the switchI44. During this second, if the switches I44 and I54 are both open, thecascade is deenergized through the circuit C and a foul signal will becalled. An infraction of the rules of play that will cause thisoperation of the device is commonly known as the "heel and toe foul,where the heel rests upon the alley in front of the foul line and thetoe extends out over the foul line above the hallway. This occurs onlyfor a brief period of time, namely, the 1-second period of time, afterwhich any interference with the top beam 23 will not operate to call afoul. Once the ball I5 has interrupted the cutout beam, the switch I513of the relay 53b is closed, and the circuit E and E2 established therebymaintains energization of the relay 5I so that any interruptanc of thelower beam will not operate to open the switch I45 and call a foul. Thisprevents a bowler from making an intentional foul with his foot afterthe ball has reached the pit of the alley.

However, in event a player is falling over the foul line and does notcome in contact with the hallway and interrupt the cascade beams beforethe ball reaches the cutout beam, the operation of the cutout in no wayaffects the ability of the cascade beams and the relay I42 thereof tocall a foul. The circuit B sustaining energize.- tion of the cascaderelay I42 is broken when the switch 255 breaks contact with contact I4?and the current cutoff characteristic of the tube I253 interrupts theonly other means sustaining energization of the relay I42. A capacitytype of detector such as that described in our Patent No. 2,425,254 canbe substituted for the cascade photoelectric. beams on the hallway tocontrol the: relay I42.

IILEigS. it and 4 the control system is modified toinclude the cascadecontrol I I3 described in conjunction. with. Figs. 1, 2 and without thecascade being subject to the operation of the cutout beam as alreadydescribed in connection with Fig. 5.- In- Fig. 3 the cascade relay I20and switch 146 shunt the switches 58 and 28, whereas in Fig. l thecutout relay 5% and switch 28- shunt the amplifier tube '60 of thelowerbeam relay 5| so that in either case an. intentional foot faultcommitted by interrupting the lower beam after the ball hasinterruptedbeam 21- and reached the pit of the alley will not cause avfoul to besignalled or placed into operation any equipment controlled bythe foul detecting circuits described, such as signals 40, 4|, automaticpin setter 162 (Fig. 1;) or any other equipment.

, (Consequently it will be seen from the drawings and the descriptionthereof how the objects of the invention are-attained, and although insome respects we are not. able to account fully for the improved resultswhich are attained by the apparatus and arrangement of elements andcircuits of the invention, it should be understood that. any attempt toanalyze the theories believed' to be responsible for these results is tobe construed not as defining a mode of operation but merely asa possibleexplanation of certain: physical,v electrical or capacity phenom-- enawhich have been observed.

Although; certain. embodiments and preferred arrangements of. the;elements of the. present inventionhavebeen-shown and described herein,it. will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious usesandxmodifications and changes may be-madewithout departing from thespirit and: substance of' the: invention.

What is claimed is:

1.. For use with. a bowling alley having a .foul line. .dividingit,intoarunway and a hallway and having equipment associated with thealley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul, anapparatus including a device actuated by a body such as a bowlersfootpresent above and proximate to the foul line and constituting the sole'means for. detecting infractions. of the rules of play at the foulline, a second device spaced from the first and actuated by a bodytouching the alley upon the ballway, means controlled by the operationof one of said devices for operating said equipment, and means actuatedby a ball in motion beyond the second device for removing said footdetecting device from operation while maintaining operativeness of saidsecond device.

2. For use with a bowling alley having equipment associated with thealley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul and having afoul line across which a bowling ball is delivered by a bowler when putinto play, an apparatus including a device for detecting the presence ofa body such as a bowlers foot proximate to and above the foul line, adevice for detecting the presence of any portion of a bowlers body whichcontacts the alley within a predetermined distance beyond the foul line,a timer device associated with the first two devices for maintainingsaid detection for a predetermined period of time, means controlled bythe operation of one of the first two of said devices for operating saidequipment in combination with said timer device, and means located uponthe alley beyond 10 the foul line responsive to the passage of a balltherepast for removingfrom operation said" foot detecting device at. atime ahead of. the termination of said predetermined period of, time;

3. In asignallingv device for bowling alleys or the like having afoulline, a signal control circuit including twosWitches-connected inparallel and; controlled by. relaysrespectively, means for detectinginfractions of rules of. play at the foul line for actuating one of saidrelays to close the circuit, means. for detecting infractions of rulesofplay beyond the foul line for actuating the other one of said relaystoclose the circuit, timer means for maintaining closed the circuit thusclosed by one of the switches for a predetermined time, and meansincluding a switch for opening thecircuit having the first of saidswitches in it in response to a ball passing a predetermined point onthe alley beyond the foul line.

4. For a bowling alley, the combination of normally inoperative meansfor detecting infractions of rules of play at the foul line, an elementcontrolling said means to allow a ball to pass over the foul line ontothe hallway without actuating said means, a second normally inoperativemeans for detecting infractions of rules of play immediately beyond thefoul line, means responsive to the passage of the ball beyond the foulline rendering both of said inoperative means operative, and a secondball responsive means spaced from the first ball responsive meansrendering said first normally inoperative means. inoperativefor a shortperiod of time;

5.v For use with a bowling alley having a foul line dividing it into arunway'and a hallway and having equipment. associated. with the alleyincluding means for disclosing a commission of a foul, an apparatusincluding a device actuated by a body such as a bowlers foot presentabove and proximate to thefoul line including a switch, a second devicespaced from the first and actuatedby a body touching the alley upon theballway, means controlled by the operation of said devices separatelyfor operating said equipment, timer means for maintaining actuation ofboth of said devices for a predetermined period of time, and meansactuated by a ball passing a predetermined point beyond the foul, line.and beyond the second device for actuating saidiswitch to remove saidfoot detecting device from operation prior to the expiration of saidpredetermined period of time.

6. For use with a bowling alley having equipment associated with thealley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul and having afoul line across which a bowling ball is delivered by a bowler when putinto play, an apparatus including a device for detecting the presence ofa body such as a bowlers foot proximate to and above the foul line, adevice for detecting the presence of any portion of a bowlers body whichcontacts the alley within a predetermined distance beyond the foul line,means for detecting the passage of a ball beyond said predetermineddistance, means controlled by the operation of said means and one ofsaid devices jointly for registering the commission of a foul, and meansresponsive to the presence of a ball beyond the second device forremoving said first device from operation.

'7. In a signalling device for bowling alleys or the like having a foulline, a signal circuit including a switch, a relay controlling saidswitch, a control circuit including said relay and a plurality ofswitches, two of which are connected in the circuit in parallel, meansfor detecting infractions of the rules of play beyond the foul lineincluding a relay for actuating one of said two switches to close saidcontrol circuit, means for detecting infractions of rules of play at thefoul line for actuating the other of said two switches to close thecontrol circuit, and means responsive to the passage of a ball past apredetermined point on the alley beyond the foul line for actuatinganother one of said plurality of switches which is connected in serieswith said other of the two switches to open the circuit it closes.

8. For use witha bowling alley having a foul line dividing it into arunway and a ballway and having equipment associated with the alleyincluding means for disclosing a commission of a foul, an apparatusincluding a device actuated by a body such as a bowlers foot presentabove and proximate to the foul line, a timer for maintaining actuationof said device for a predetermined period of time, a second devicespaced from the first and actuated by the presence of a body touchingthe alley upon the hallway side of the foul line, a third device spacedfrom the other two devices beyond the second device upon the ballway andactuated by a body such as a ball in motion beyond the second device,means controlled by the joint operation of the third device and one ofthe other two devices for operating said equipment, and means responsiveto the passage of a ball past a predetermined point on the ballwaybeyond the third device for removing the first device and the timer fromoperation while maintaining operativeness of said second device.

9. For use with a bowling alley having equipment associated with thealley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul and having afoul line across which a bowling ball is delivered by a bowler when putinto play, an apparatus including a device actuated by a body such as abowlers foot proximate to and above the foul line and constituting thesole means for detecting infractions of the rules of play at the foulline, a second device actuated by any portion of a bowlers body whichcontacts the alley within a predetermined distance beyond the foul line,a third device actuated by a body such as a ball in motion on the alleybeyond said second device, means controlled by the joint operation ofone of the first two of said devices in combination with the thirddevice for operating said equipment, and means located upon the alley ata point beyond said third device and responsive to the presence of amoving ball upon the alley for removing from operation the first devicewhile maintaining operativeness of said second device.

10. In a signalling device for bowling alleys or the like having a foulline, a signal control circuit including a switch, a relay controllingsaid switch, means'for detecting infractions of rules of play at thefoul line for operating said relay, timer means including a circuit forsustaining the operation of said relay for a predetermined period oftime after said relay is actuated, means responsive to the passage of aball past a predetermined point on the alley beyond the foul line forremoving said relay and timer means from operation by said detectingmeans, and means detecting infractions of rules of play beyond the foulline for operating said relay independently of said first detectingmeans and said responsive means.

11. For use with a bOWlll'lg alley having a foul line dividing it into arunway and a hallway and having equipment associated with the alleyincluding means for disclosing a commission of a foul, an apparatusincluding a device actuated by a body such as a bowlers foot presentabove and proximate to the foul line as a sole means for detectinginfractions of the rules of play at the foul line, a second deviceactuated by a bowlers body touching the alley upon the ballway, meanscontrolled by the operation of said devices separately for operatingsaid equipment, and means actuated by a ball passing a predeterminedpoint beyond the foul line for removing said first device from operationwhile maintaining operativeness of said second device.

JAMES A. MACLAGAN. TI-IADDEUS A. WALSH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,417,092 Smith Mar. 11, 1947 2,425,255 MacLagan et a1 Aug. 5,1947

